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What’s the word, Enjoyers? There have been so many great hoops moments over the past couple days. We couldn’t be more excited to share them with you.

Also, stay tuned for some reminiscing about one of the greatest NBA Finals moments ever…

Today’s Lineup

Last Night’s Action

Nuggets win back-and-forth contest against Celtics, 115-109

The masses on Twitter were calling this one a Finals preview, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The Celtics led for almost the entire first quarter, but Denver soon took control and responded by leading for nearly the entire second quarter. The Nuggets’ lead tightened in the third, thanks to some Jaylen Brown (season-high 41 PTS) heroics, but Denver pulled out the W in the end. Nikola Jokic (32 PTS, 12 REB, 11 AST) powered the Nuggets to victory despite a slump in team shooting (4-21 3PT).

Edwards shines, Minnesota beats Indiana 113-111

44 points, six rebounds, and the game-winning block (see below) as time expired? This was one of the best nights of Anthony Edwards’ career. Despite some missed free throws by Minnesota late in the fourth, the Pacers couldn’t get over the hump. As it stands now, this could be a playoff matchup—and we’re hoping for it.

And prayers up to Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a meniscus tear and will be reevaluated in a month. He’s expected to return early in the postseason—here’s hoping he can be there when the Wolves need him.

Elsewhere around the Association…

• Dallas beat Miami 114-108 behind—you guessed it—a Luka (35 PTS, 11 AST, 10 REB) triple-double. That’s his fifth consecutive 30+ point triple-double, which ties the record held by—guessed it again—Russell Westbrook.

• The Spurs were leading the Kings for almost the entire fourth quarter, but a Domantas Sabonis (31 PTS, 17 REB, 9 AST) steal-and-score clinched this 131-129 win for Sacramento.

• The Bulls snuck past the Warriors 125-122 for their first win in the Bay Area since 2015, partly thanks to a missed layup by Brandin Podziemski with under ten seconds left. DeMar DeRozan (33 PTS, 8 REB) had a great night that included this absolutely tough clutch and-one.

• The Pistons got their second win in the past five games! We know that’s not a lot to be celebrating, but they need all they can get. Detroit put Brooklyn away 118-112.

• It’s not often that Grayson Allen (26 PTS, 8 3PM) is the one who wins games for Phoenix given its star-studded roster, but he and KD (35 PTS) powered Phoenix over Toronto 120-113.

Wednesday Night Notes

• Los Angeles felt great after the first quarter, but De’Aaron Fox (44 PTS) had other things in mind. The Kings turned a 19-point first-quarter deficit into a 22-point lead by the third quarter and ended up winning by ten.

• Chicago escaped Utah’s late comeback attempt to win 119-117, but the real story of this game was this weird altercation between John Collins and… Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming?

• And in Houston’s 122-116 loss to the Clippers, Alperen Sengun’s (23 PTS, 19 REB, 14 AST) performance would have been the best of his young career… if he hadn’t have done what he did on Tuesday. This league is in good hands. 🤝

Hoops History: The 2004 Detroit Pistons

For today’s Hoops History segment—and for some positivity for Pistons fans— we’re throwing it back twenty years, when the 2003-04 Pistons beat Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers in one of the biggest Finals upsets in NBA history.

Make no mistake: this Pistons team was good. Going into the playoffs, their starting lineup was Chauncey Billups and Richard “Rip” Hamilton in the backcourt, trade-deadline addition Tayshaun Prince at the three, and the Wallace Bros (no actual relation) Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace in the frontcourt. They won 54 games, good for third in the Eastern Conference. Good. Not amazing, but very good.

But when you’re going up against prime Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, good doesn’t usually cut it. The Lakers were the obvious pick to win the title going into the regular season, and when the star-studded Lakers eventually matched up against the Pistons in the Finals, there was no question who the favorites were. (it was not the young ragtag group of borderline All-Star caliber players).

The Pistons won Game 1, but the Lakers came back to win Game 2 behind 33 points from Kobe. But then, with the series tied 1-1 and the next three games to be played in Detroit, something incredible happened.

Rip Hamilton put up 31 points in Game 3 and the Pistons cruised to a twenty-point win. And despite 36 from Shaq in Game 4, Detroit out-rebounded LA (51-39) and came away with an eight-point win. And in Game 5, the Pistons finished the job in the way they knew best—teamwork. All of Detroit’s starting lineup scored in double-digits, with Rip Hamilton (21 PTS) leading the pack, and the Pistons’ defense suffocated Kobe Bryant (7-21 FG).

When the final buzzer rang, Detroit had won 100-87 to capture their franchise’s third Larry O’Brien trophy. The ultimate underdogs had prevailed. 🏆

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Appreciate you being here with us today. Take some time off this weekend to relax and think about who you’ve been so far in 2024. It’s always a great idea to reflect and adapt. Peace! ✌️

-Austin Zeglis